Simple 5-Minute Lemon Balm Mint and Honey Tea for Instant Relaxation

Simple 5-Minute Lemon Balm Mint and Honey Tea for Instant Relaxation

There is something deeply restorative about a cup of tea made with fresh herbs — and this one is as beautiful to look at as it is to drink. Lemon balm, with its soft citrus fragrance and gentle calming quality, pairs effortlessly with cool, bright mint and a spoonful of good honey that melts into the cup and rounds everything out into something genuinely special. It takes five minutes to make, requires almost nothing of you, and feels like a little act of self-care in a mug. Make it in the afternoon when you need a quiet moment, or after dinner as a way to wind down. Once you’ve tried it with fresh herbs, the dried stuff will feel like a very poor substitute.

Ingredients

  • Small handful fresh lemon balm leaves (about 10 to 12 leaves)

  • Small handful fresh mint leaves (about 8 to 10 leaves)

  • 2 cups just-boiled water

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons raw honey, or to taste

  •  2 thin slices of lemon, to garnish

Directions

  • Gently bruise the lemon balm and mint leaves between your palms before adding them to a teapot or heatproof jug — this releases the essential oils and makes a noticeably more fragrant, flavourful cup.
  • Pour over the just-boiled water and leave to steep for 4 to 5 minutes. The longer it steeps, the more pronounced the flavour will be.
  • Strain into two cups and stir in the honey while the tea is still hot, allowing it to dissolve completely. Float a thin slice of lemon on top of each cup and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Use water that has just come off the boil rather than a rolling boil — this preserves the delicate volatile oils in the fresh herbs and gives a cleaner, more nuanced flavour.
  • Raw honey is worth seeking out here. Its floral complexity and depth bring far more to the cup than standard processed honey. A wildflower or acacia variety works beautifully.
  • This tea is lovely served slightly chilled in warmer months — steep as usual, allow to cool to room temperature, then pour over ice and add a few extra mint leaves.
  • Lemon balm is wonderfully easy to grow in a pot on a windowsill or in the garden and produces abundantly through spring and summer. If you can’t find it fresh, a good herbalist or farmers market is usually the best source.